UHV staff recognizes longtime administrative assistant as 2013 Employee of the Year

Sandra Wood, center, a recently retired administrative assistant for the UHV School of Arts & Sciences, was named the university’s 2013 Employee of the Year at a Feb. 4 Faculty & Staff Recognition Luncheon.

Recently retired Sandra Wood ended her career on a high note Tuesday when she was named the University of Houston-Victoria 2013 Employee of the Year at the university’s Faculty & Staff Recognition Luncheon.

Wood was an administrative assistant for the UHV School of Arts & Sciences for more than 20 years before retiring on Friday. During her time at the university, she worked with five different School of Arts & Sciences deans and countless faculty members.

“This is a marvelous way to end my career at UHV,” she said. “Everyone at the university has been so wonderful to work with and very supportive. I’m honored the UHV staff chose me as the Employee of the Year.”

She plans to spend her retirement traveling, gardening and taking care of her mother.

Jeffrey Di Leo, dean of the UHV School of Arts & Sciences, said that Wood always had a smile on her face.

“Sandra was very knowledgeable about her job and was always available for students, faculty and staff members,” he said. “A large part of the success and growth of the school is directly attributed to her efforts. We will miss her.”

UHV staff members cast votes on an email ballot listing each 2013 UHV Employee of the Month. In addition to Wood, others listed on the ballot were:

Wood received a $500 check, a UHV T-shirt and a plaque. Her name also will be engraved on the Employee of the Year plaque displayed in UHV University West.

A second Faculty & Staff Luncheon will take place at UH Sugar Land on Feb. 18 for those UHV employees who work at that teaching center, the UH System at Cinco Ranch, the Houston Community College Katy campus or the Lone Star College University Center at Montgomery in The Woodlands.

UHV also recognized employees who have worked for five, 10, 15, 20 or 25 years at the university. Each employee’s name, title and department are listed below.

Five Years

Keith Akins, assistant professor in the School of Arts & Sciences

Omar Al Nasser, assistant professor in the School of Business Administration

Eugenia Blomstrom, assistant clinical professor in the School of Nursing

Candace Boyd, student advising coordinator in the School of Arts & Sciences

Sandra Wood, administrative assistant for the School of Arts & Sciences

25 Years

Joe Dahlstrom, senior director of libraries at the VC/UHV Library

Ruby Dean, financial aid specialist in Financial Aid

The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region, offers courses leading to more than 65 bachelor’s and master’s degree
programs and concentrations in the schools of Arts & Sciences, Business Administration, Education & Human Development, and Nursing. UHV provides face-to-face
classes at its Victoria campus as well as teaching sites in Fort Bend and Harris counties, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. Since its
founding in 1973, UHV has provided students with a quality university education from excellent faculty at an affordable price.